This undated file photo provided by Rep. John Dingell’s office shows the congressman with President John F. Kennedy

****

President Obama talks with Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., along with members of his family, in the Oval Office, June 13. Rep. Dingell is the longest-serving Member in the history of the United States Congress (Photo by Pete Souza)

****

During a tribute to Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., the longest serving Congressman in American history, Mary Wilson of the Supremes asked House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Cal., and others, including Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, to join her onstage in a rendition of the hit song “Stop! In the Name of Love.” Hilarity ensued.

150 Responses to “From JFK to PBO”

PBO will be here in less then a week. I would like to thank the people that were unable to write proper history graduation exams so they need extra oral exams on Wednesday afternoon when there will probablly be TV coverage…. [/sarsasm]

Chris Hayes’ tweet “I have a bad feeling about where this all is headed.” is very ambiguous. To us it means that he’s afraid he’s going to find out he’s been wrong, and Snowden and Greenwald are not heroes. However, to him it could mean that he’s afraid Snowden and Greenwald are going to be “captured” by the FBI, CIA, whatever branch of government he fears, and brought to trial as traitors or criminals of some sort. He would HATE that and rail against it for years. He is so blindered, I don’t believe he sees at all what we have seen and others are finally realizing.

Carolyn I think you are 100% right on that. I don’t think for one minute that he’s having second thoughts about his alliance with these traitors as some have suggested. I think he’s fearful that his “heroes” are going to prison!

He’s a libertarian idiot: not connected to reality. He sees big government boogeymen everywhere he looks. I surely do hope Snowjob is delivered back to us in a nice package by the Chinese. What?! And that he goes on trial for treason and that the trial is shown on TV! I’d skip work, school and internship everyday to watch. What?! I’d love for him to be found guilty and locked behind bars for the rest of his miserable, treasonous life. That would surely put a sad on Chris Hayes and his ilk. There is no honor or courage in betraying your country and the media should not be cheering him on like a bunch of brainless cheerleaders.

“I’d love for him to be found guilty and locked behind bars for the rest of his miserable, treasonous life.”

I am a weak-knee’d European bleeding-heart liberal, so I will be against the death penalty.

But there is a reason someone like Timothy McVeigh isn’t among the living anymore – do your realize that for half a century we had to endure his “freedom of speech” from his prison cell if he just got “life in prison without parole” …

Agreed, Lisa. In the US, he’s get a trial and all of his dubious connections and sources of money would be revealed. That I would like to see. All of his venality has to be put on public display–no hiding behind Greenwald and other Libertarians. His faux ‘nobility’ is backed by a big source of $$. Who’s paying him?

Jovie, it’s been a while since I’ve been here, but I think I know when I’m just making a statement about a senator who surprised me by her actions versus accusing another blog member of saying something they didn’t. Please re-read my comment. None of it was about you.

‘ While libertarianism as a philosophy is superficial, juvenile nonsense, particular libertarian proposals are sometimes worthwhile on their merits. The seastead and charter cities movements are examples. If libertarians want to move to converted offshore oil platforms or multinational-owned company towns in the jungles of Central America, I for one will wish them well. ‘

Na’. The neo-cons have been pushing to arm Syrian rebels for a couple years now. Obama has generally pushed back. Hell, he even pushed back last year when Hillary was forcefully behind the idea. He’s given in and it’s now going to potentially (read likely) put arms in the hands of the wrong people. We have to be consistent on this. Just because Obama is behind it doesn’t make it right. Just last week we all laughed at McCain’s comments that we would arm only the ‘good’ rebels. Well it doesn’t sound any better coming out of Obama’s camp than McCain’s.

I’ve seen this play before – in the 1980s in Afghanistan. How’d that work out for the U.S.?

‘The neo-cons have been pushing to arm Syrian rebels for a couple years now. Obama has generally pushed back. Hell, he even pushed back last year when Hillary was forcefully behind the idea. He’s given in’

Without debating the merits of this right now – QUESTION: Does this mean the President cannot change his mind (even when circumstances might have changed)? Especially if it puts him in agreement with someone with whom he previously disagreed?

I am sorry, I don’t share your version of events. The rebels want to fight. Pres Obama warned Assad about the use of Chemical weapons. The POTUS said that would change his calculous. And It has. I am empathetic to the difficulty of this decision. The pres was elected. He made the decision. 90K have been killed. I would not want to be second guessing his options.

Very disappointed in Obama and the White House right now. I don’t care if Assad is set to nuke his own people – giving arms to terrorist groups that hate America is not the way to go. I’ve bit my tongue on a lot of the stuff Obama has done that I don’t agree with … but this is really dispiriting and way too hawkish for my liking.

What’s the solution then? Until people come up with plausible and achievable ideas to help out instead of taking their ball out of the game,
just saying this and that with out real solutions does not help anybody or any one.

There is no solution to help. It’s not our job. Conversely, where do you draw the line? What if arming the rebels does jack and instead puts even more arms in the hands of anti-American terrorists? Then do we take the next step and send boots on the ground? The solution from our side is pretty clear – stay out. We’ve stuck our nose in one too many messes over the years and have little to show for it (from Latin America and Afghanistan in the 80s to Iraq in the 90s and 00s).

Yes, what Assad is doing sucks, it’s awful, but that’s life in a world gone mad.

It is in AMERICA’S interest not to let the use of chemical weapons by Assad go un-responded to. I share your concerns about what this will mean for the long run. I listened to the state department briefing today, and it was all about how it’s been a WHOLE 7 days since the US has had the French findings on the use of chemicals by Assad. The UK supports the finds. Why has the WH administration been deliberating for so long since our own preliminary “in likelihood Assad used chemical weapons on his own people.

I know the president and the administration is NOT rushing into this. We have had almost 2 years of backroom diplomacy. THAT is what I ask for before we go to war. Diplomacy, deliberation, a plan and a good reason. I really do not know the outcome of this. You may be right in that it will not be limited in scope- but I know that President Obama will do all he can, both with that in mind and with continued diplomacy. I just really don’t see it as him being pushed- I think he and his team have acted with a respect and wisdom of what it means for the US to arm such of a disperse group of individuals and interest that may not be in OUR interest…I know the state briefings have been full of accusations of not being involved or helping when we’ve clearly helped with much non lethal aid, and trying to pull together a united opposition. I know this decision was not reached lightly.

Well, we are all entitled to our opinions. I would definitely classify myself as a dove. I hate war of any kind but I’m not CIC so I have to defer to the person I hired (via my vote) to do what’s best but I do understand your concern.

Pathetic response. Pres. Obama and no one in the white house has said he’s arming Syrian rebels. McCain is walking back his crap but noooo…you prefer to listen to gossip and spout nonsense before waiting for facts. :roll:

That’s extreme. So, if tomorrow, Obama announced ground troops in Syria, we’d have to like that too? C’mon, now. Just a few hours ago, some of you were critical of Clinton for saying Obama should do what he’s actually doing. I’m not going to suddenly change my mind on Syria just because Obama has changed his. I mocked McCain when he said we’d know how to tell the good guys apart from the bad when giving arms and I’m rolling my eyes at the White House believing it can do that too.

The President has let me down. I think he’s going to create a big mess in Syria and I really, truly hope this doesn’t lead to ground troops. But with how I didn’t anticipate the White House to make this move, I think it’s clear nothing is off the table and that is a scary thought. A terrifying thought.

Sorry, Jovie, but this ain’t a what if anymore. We’ve officially stuck our nose in Syrian business. Every ‘what if’ is now on the table now that Obama has swung that door open. Hell, just last week you could say, “HE HASN’T ORDERED ARMS TO REBELS!” … but now that he has, now that we’re actively inserting ourselves into the conflict, I’m not going to expect this is the end of it all – rather the beginning.

Libya isn’t okay now, tho, that’s the problem. Plus, unlike Libya, this regime isn’t on its last legs…they’ve got fight left in ‘em and I’m not convinced arming the rebels will do much of a dent. So, what’s the next step? I think we deserve to know what we’re getting ourselves into. If it’s just a commitment of some basic supplies, fine, but how can I trust that if this fails, or it advances the conflict even more, we won’t commit NATO troops there like we did in the 90s in Kosovo?

I guess I think the expanding impact on surrounding countries is crucial as well as the refugees. The starving and sick children, the pregnant mothers, the wounded. There are also allies to be protected. Minimalist thinking in this case will not do. Lastly, I fully and completely trust this President. I hired him, I trust him and I love him!

I assailed Clinton for meddling. He has no business prescribing what PBO should do. PBO is briefing daily on the circumstances and it is up to him to decide what to do, not fall in alignment with those who wish to micromanage his presidency. Whether or not you trust his course of action is up to you.

I trusted Obama because I thought he’d make the right choice and realize there is no good that could come out of this. I was wrong. I hope he’s right and I’m wrong, but considering the U.S. has seen far bigger blowback for meddling than success, I fear this is going to end very badly for us in the long run.

Me, I wonder why you call it ‘trust’ when you have predetermined actions you want the President to take?

Anyways, there’s no sense our arguing about this. President Obama will do what he thinks is right based on the evidence he has at his disposal, and since his supporters all don’t have the same info in the same detail he has, there’s bound to be different conclusions. Only time will tell. For my part, since he isn’t a magician, whatever time does tell, I still #TrustBarack, because I know in my heart he is making the best decision as he sees it, given the info at his disposal.

You seem very disturbed re this latest information and your opinion is welcome. However it should be done in a respectful manner. Obama does not cut it for me. It is President Obama! Notice that the President has not made any announcements to the American people as yet.

I can see your point, but when the President chemical weapons used by Assad on his people would be a red line. Did you think he was only bluffing? If not what did you think would happen if the red line was crossed.

No I would not like it! But I know he is no hawk, or fool, or warmonger or without the patience, strength and long term thinking to weigh all the options. I feel it’s foolish to not acknowledge the possibility of making another Osama bin Laden or the like. Arms in a war might get “lost” be stolen etc.

It has nothing to do with “liking” it because it’s PBO. For me it has to do with the slow deliberation and working all channels BEFORE going to war. As much as my heart aches for the many who have died in Syria, I know I calculate in our blood and treasure. Plus how much their interest will coincide with our interest.

It is a decision I would hate to make. People still fight over whether the US taking so long to fight against Hitler. Some wars are “just” wars, but all wars should be deliberated upon. I still catching up with the news on this- it sounds like we are still trying to keep boots from being on the ground.

I tell ya one thing Mr. President is not getting those grey hairs cause he’s going along and being “pushed” anywhere. I hope you will lift yourself back up Drunken Irishman. My prayers are with all of us.

and why so many contractors doing the work of government? as i recall, that was because we were told government is too big, and too many people are sucking off the taxpayer’s teat….oh, and also, friends of congress wanted to make a profit as government contractors.

‘ Lawmakers plan to draft legislation that would limit the access that federal contractors have to highly classified information, the chairwoman of the Senate intelligence panel said Thursday.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said Congress is considering changes to the rules for contractors in the wake of illegally leaked details about domestic intelligence programs run by the National Security Agency (NSA).
~
A 2013 report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) said half of the 1.4 million people who hold top-secret clearance are contractors or non-government employees. ‘

Oh man … does that mean she cannot or won’t run for President? Remember after our dear President’s re-election, I said I hoped the next President would be a Democratic Gay Hispanic Woman. Just to see the RWNJ’s all explode and go away forever.

The SCOTUS did what? Ban protesters on their Grounds? Excuse me, SCOTUS? Do they think that the Constitution does not apply to them? We have a right, enshrined in the Constitution, to petition our Government. SCOTUS is the 1/3 of the 3 branches of the gov’t. This is wrong. I am just bothered by this.

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.

Apathy <exactly.
If a kid gets shot, its not my problem.
If a girl gets raped, it's not my problem.
If a people is discriminated, it's not my problem.
If a little baby was lost, its not my problem
until it affects the person who is apathetic.

Hello everyone! Can only stay a minute, and while I know everyone already told him, I wanted to add my 2 cents: fu*k Bill Clinton and I hope the list of NSA averted attacks is so long they have to print it over a period of three days.

I would like to caution folks to wait before speaking. Drunken Irishman, where and when did Pres. Obama ever say he was arming Syrian Rebels? How about you think before writing or wait for credible information before yelling that the sky is falling down? Pres. Obama is NOT arming Syrian rebels. Stop listening to fools like John McCain and look before you leap.

It’s things like this that piss me off. Instead of waiting for credible information, you jump on the “OMG!!! Obama had better not do this. I’m soooo disappointed in him. I feel like I wasted my vote. He’d better not do this or else…blah….blah….blah”

Wait for facts before spewing BS and if he does decide to arm the Syrian rebels, does commonsense not say that he has thought about this situation long and hard? Has he not proven himself time and time again? He has.

On Senate floor, McCain first said POTUS has decided to arm Syrian rebels but JUST NOW said POTUS has NOT YET DECIDED to arm rebels.

‘The federal government in Hawaii is pursuing yet another case about leaked defense secrets — this time involving a high-ranking military officer.

Major Seivirak Inson, 43, is a soldier assigned to Schofield Barracks who is a longtime Army intelligence officer who has served in Iraq.

In court martial proceedings today, military prosecutors alleged that Inson attempted to hand over a number of military secrets to members connected to the Cambodian government between 2009 and 2012. ‘

Yesterday June 12 – Chris Hayes got the lowest ratings of the MSNBC lineup from 6PM-10PM AND he was beaten by CNN (Anderson Cooper) and HLN (Nancy Grace). All the other MSNBC hosts beat CNN & HLN during their respective slots.